Device for transferring aeroplane mail



April 28, 193i. MILLER 1,802,730

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING AEROPLANE MAIL Filed April 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8, 1931. L. o. MILLER 1,802,736

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING AEROPLANE MAIL Filed April 28. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lttozm 013 o.

April 28, 1931. L. o. MILLER DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING AEROPLANE MAIL Filed April 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LOP/N O. MALLEA mtovmmjo.

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES LOB-IN O. MILLER, OF DUN-KIRK, INDIANA DEVICE FOR TRANSFERB-ING AEROPLANE MAIL Application filed. April 28,

This invention relates to a device designed primarily for use in transferring aeroplane mail, the primary object of the invention being to provide novel means whereby bags or pouches containing mail may be picked up or dropped by aeroplanes to facilitate the transferring of mail with the resultant saving of time and labor.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be supported on building roofs, towers or the like, the transferring device being operable from a place remote from the receiver or delivery mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receiving device in the form of an enlarged scoop, the scoop being pivotally mounted so that it may be rotated to v receive mail from aeroplanes moving in va- 2 rious directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically signaling to the clerk at receiving desk in the post oflice, when the mail bag has been removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of'parts and in. the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view takenlat right angles to Figure 4, and illustrating the con struction of one of the bag holding balls.

7 Figure 6 is a perspective View illustrat- 5 ing a ball in its active or securing position.

1930. Serial No. 448,126. I

Figure 7 is a view illustrating one of the attaching devices employed in picking up a mail bag by means of the swinging cable.

Figure 8 is a perspective View illustrating one of the balls of the swinging cable as caught in a pick up hook.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View illustratingthe circuits to the signaling lights.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises an inclined receiving spout 5, which extends. through the top of the building or supporting structure, the discharge end of the spout being disposed directly over the table 6, so that the bags of mail deposited in thespout may be-deliv ered to a place where they may be readily opened and the contents. thereof assorted.

The lower, end of'the spout 5 is formed with openingsto establish communication between the spout and :drain pipe 7 so that foreign matter may drain from 'the spout;

As shown, the upper end of the spout extends adjacent the roof of the building where it receives the pipe 8 that depends from the receiver 9, which is substantially scoop or funnel-shaped, the samebeing provided with an inclined bottom- 10;

An opening is formed in the bottom 10 to establish communicati'o'n between the pipe 8 and receiver 9, the opening being normally closed by means of the down wardly swinging closure 11, which is moved to itsclosed position by means of the hinge 11, which isof the spring type.

Secured to the pipe 8, is a ring gear 12 that is'in mesh with the pinion 13 mounted at the upper end of the vertical shaft 14;, the shaft 14 extending to a point within the building, where it, is operated by means of pinions l5 and 15, that in turn are operated by means of the motor 17. Thus it will be obvious that due to this construction, the receiver 9 may be moved to'various' positions to catch mail bags from aeroplanes moving in variousdirections, to the end that an aeroplane may deposit its bag or pouch of mail withoutfchanging its course.

A shield'l5 extends downwardly from thereceiver 9 and overlies the ring gear and pinion 13 to protect the' pinion and gear against the elements, to insure the operation of the device at all times.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the bottom has its front side edges extended upwardly and inwardly in spaced relation with each other to provide a guide 16, which guide forms a continuation of the inclined bottom lO so that bags of mail drawn into the receiver will be directed upwardly over the inclined bottom 10, and into the guide, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

The reference character 17 designates a cable which is connected with the aeroplane, in any suitable and well kown manner, the cable being so constructed that it will hang downwardly under the weight of the mail bag secured-thereto.

A plurality of pick up balls 18 are secured to the-cable 17, the balls 18 being disposed in spaced relation with each other and of a diameter to fit within the pocket formed by the inwardly curved fingers 19 of the pick up hook, the fingers when in use, being supported in a direct line with the guide 16 so that the hook will be engaged by a ball sliding through the guide, and carried from the outer end of the receiver.

The pick up hook comprises a head 20 formed with anopening to receive the upper end. of the rod 21 that moves vertically through the tube 22, the rod being operated and controlled by: means of the gearing 23 and motor 24. A snap hook indicated by the reference character 25 hangs from the pick up hook, and affords means whereby a mail bag containing mail to be delivered to an aeroplane, may be secured to the pick up hook.

The construction of the head 20 is such 2 that it will pass under the spring fingers 26 of the pick up hook catch and be held by the spring fingers, when the rod 21 moves downwardly away from the pick up hook.

Extending from the head 20, is a pin 27 that engages the switch member 28 disposed adjacent to the fingers 26, to hold the switch member 28 closed, lighting a lamp at the attendants desk and indicating that the pick up hook'and' bag have been properly positioned to be picked up by an aeroplane passing thereover.

At the end of the cable 17 is a bag securing ball embodying hinged sections 29 which are normally held in spaced relation with each other, or in a position as shown by Figure 6 of the drawing, by means of the coiled spring 40.

The sections 29 carry arms 41 which are formed with curved extremities 42 adapted to grip the opposite sides of the pin 43 employed in' connecting a bag to the bag securing ball. This pin is formed with a head 44 that contacts with the arms to hold the pin in position. A snap hook 45 is secured to one end of the pin 43 and provides means whereby the mail bag, which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character 46, may be secured to the pin.

Switch members 47 are provided at various points near the pipe 8, to be engaged by a switch actuating member 48, carried by the pipe 8, the switches 47 being in circuit with the lights 49, 50, 51 and 52, so that as the member 48 operates to operate a switch member, the light connected with the switch member, or in circuit therewith, will be lighted to indicate to the attendant that the receiver 9 is in a certain position.

The operation of the device is as follows: A mail plane passing over the device drops the cable 17 to the end of which is secured the mail bag indicated at 46, to be delivered by the plane. i The mail bag to be picked up by the plane is hanging at the outer end of the guide 16, in a manner as shown by Figure 3. As the cable swings into the receiver 9, the balls are, fed to the guide 16 and slide through the guide, the foremost ball moving into the curved fingers 19 of the pick up hook, which hook is released from the guide 16. As the bag securing ball passes, between the side members of the guide 16, the hinged sections 29 are forced inwardly to positions as shown by Figure 4 of the drawings, whereupon the pin is released, the bag and pin falling into the receiver, from where it gravitates through the pipe 8 and spout 5 where it may be removed by the attendant.

Whenthe bag is removed from the end of the guide 16, the switch 28 engaged by the pin 27 and held in its active position by the pin 27, operates to break the circuit to the signal light at the receiving desk or table 6, indicating to the attendant that the bag has been removed. I 7

When it is desired to position a bag to be received by a mail plane, the attendant operates a switch not shown, to cause the motor 24 to transmit movement to the gearing 23 forcing the rod 21 upwardly to aposition where the head 20 of the pick up hook, moves under the securing member at the end of the guide 16, securing the pick up hook andbag supported thereby in position.

I claim 1. An apparatus for transferring mail bags to and from moving aeroplanes, comprising a spout, a receiver mounted at the upper end of the spout, a cable carried by the aeroplane, means on the end ofthe cable for securing a mail bag thereto,. a pick up hook, means for removably securing the pick up hook to the receiver, and means on the cable for engaging the pick up hook to pick up a mail bag, and said spout being in communication with the receiver to receive a bag from the receiver.

2. An apparatus for transferring mail bags to and from moving aeroplanes, comprising a spout, a receiver adjustably mounted at the upper end of the spout, means for adjusting the receiver on the spout, a cable carried by the aeroplane, means forming a part of the receiver for removably supporting a mail bag, means on the cable for engaging a mail bag to remove the bag from the spout, bag securing means at the free end of the cable for securing a mail bag thereto, and means on the spout for engaging the bag securing means to operate the bag securing means to release a bag.

3. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a receiver, a spout communicating with the receiver to receive bags therefrom, a guide forming a part of the receiver, a cable carried by the aeroplane, a securing device at the free end of the cable, said securing device comprising laterally movable sections, means carried by the laterally movable sec- 'tions for securing a bag to the cable, said laterally movable sections being adapted to move through the guide to force the sections inwardly to release the bag, and a closure for normally closing the upper end of the spout.

4. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a funnel-shaped receiver, a guide forming a part of the receiver, a cable carried by the aeroplane, a sectional ball at one end of the cable, said sections of the ball being hingedly connected, means for normally urging the sections away from each other, and arms carried by the sections and having curved ends cooperating to grip a bag pin, said ball being adapted to move into the guide to compress the sides of the ball to move the arms for releasing the pin and mail bag supported thereby.

5. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a receiver, a cable carried by the aeroplane, a mailbag securing device comprising a ball having pivoted members, and means for securing a mail bag pin to the pivoted members when the pivoted members are in their extended positions, said ball being adapted to move through the receiver to move the pivoted members inwardly releasing the bag pin, and said bag and pin being adapted to fall into the receiver.

6. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a receiver having a contracted portion, a cable, a bag securing means comprising a ball having pivoted sections, a spring for normally urging the pivoted sections away from each other, and arms carried by the pivoted sections, said arms being adapted to cooperate to grip a bag pin therebetween, when the pivoted sections are in their extended positions, and said pivoted sections being adapted to movethrough the contracted portion of the receiver to force'the pivoted sections inwardly to. disengage the arms and bag p 7. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a spout, a receiver at the upper end of the spout, means for adjusting the receiver in a horizontal plane, said receiver having a contracted portion, a cable carried by the aeroplane, a mail bag securing member. on the free end of the cable, and movable members on the mail bag securing member, for securing a mail bag thereon, and said mail bag securing member being adapted to move through the contracted portion of the receiver to operate the movable members to release the mail bag. 7

8. An apparatus for transferring mail bags from moving aeroplanes, comprising a spout, a receiver mounted for rotary movement at the upper end of the spout, said receiver being adapted to deliver mail bags to the spout, a cable carried by the aeroplane, means on the end of the cable for securing a mail bag thereto, and means forming a part of the receiver for operating the mail bag securing means to release the mail bag carried thereby.

9. An apparatus for transferring mail bags to moving aeroplanes, comprising a support, said support including a guide, a pick up hook, means controlled from a point remote from the support, for moving the pick up hook to a position at the outer end of the guide, a cable carried by the aeroplane, a ball on the cable, and said ball being adapted to move through the guide and become engaged with the pick up hook to secure the pick up hook to the cable, and means for connecting a mail bag to the pick up hook.

10. An apparatus for transferring mail bags to moving aeroplanes, comprising a funnel-shaped receiver, said funnel-shaped receiver having a contracted portion, a vertically movable rod, a pick up hook adapted to be positioned on the rod, said rod being adapted to move upwardly to position the pick up hook at the outer end of the contracted portion, fingers forming a part of the pick up hook, said fingers being in a line with the contracted portion, a cable carried by the aeroplane, and a ball on the cable movable through the contracted portion, and said ball being adapted to be gripped by the fingers of the pick up hook to secure the pick up hook to the cable.

11. An apparatus for transferring mail bags to moving aeroplanes, comprising a funnel-shaped support, a contracted portion merging into the funnel-shaped support, a mail bag pick up hook including spring fingers, means for removably securing the pick up hook to the funnel shaped support, a cable, and a ball on the cable, said ball being adapted to move into the funnelshaped support, said funnel-shaped'support being adapted to direct the ball to the contracted portion, and said contracted portion being adapted to guide the ball into the fingers of the pick up hook to secure the pick up hook to the cable.

. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Iha-Ve hereto affixed my signature.

LORIN O. MILLER. 

